Why does an athlete need $30m instead of $20m?

[408Cowboy]

Not another Dak thread - but someone please explain to me, from the perspective of a pro athlete, just what makes $30 million/year so badly necessary more than $20 million/year?

Yes, I know, more is always better. Yes I know, inflation. But there is virtually nothing you can want with $30 million/year that you couldn't have with $20 million/year, especially considering that there is no state income tax in Texas (unlike, say, an athlete in California or New York). You want big mansions? You got 'em - you can buy several every year. You want Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Porsches, Corvettes, Bugattis, Maseratis? You can buy a dozen each year. You want hordes of women flocking to you? Well, you would have had that with even just $2 million a year, let alone $20 million. You want to send your kids to private school, make sure your family is financially set for life? Again, you sure don't need an income of $30 million a year to do that.

This isn't even taking into account the fact that many such athletes are making plenty of money on the side through advertisements, endorsements, and other ancillary income.

Where I'm going with this is: The difference between $20 million/year and $30 million/year is virtually nil for a pro athlete - either way, he's positively bathing in wealth. But it makes a big difference to a pro team's salary cap, on the other hand. The $10 million difference could mean the difference between an NFL team being able to sign additional talent that could propel them over the top, or not being able to.

Is it simply about "Such-and-such an athlete got so-and-so much, so I want just as much?" Or, "I want to be THE highest paid so I can feel like No. 1?"

Would you take a third less than you made in your life?

 

[John813]

Cause, that's the current going rate for your position. These guys are the cream of the crop at their sport and position. It's truly not 30 mil per year(post taxes) and your contract isn't fully guaranteed. All it takes is a Alex Smith type injury and poof, there goes your long career.

Jerry and Co took home 384 million last year pre taxes, revuene was at 860+mil.

Sure, to a middle class family it seems like an absurd amount, but the NFL is a billion dollar industry.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Most players don't care about the salary cap or winning a championship. They want to get paid as much as they can for their work. That's literally all of it.



Your concept of risk is very different from mine. The players risk being permanently disabled. The owners risk the numbers in a ledger being slightly smaller. This isn't the 1960s when owners were basically making a long shot bets with their family savings or whatever, the NFL is free money even if you're a moron nowadays.

Players get compensated for that risk and in todays NFL, that's not nearly the danger it once was. I think this post is kinda symptomatic of how a lot of people view things today. I mean, everybody thinks that that there is no risk involved with the NFL, that it's just printing money but honestly, nothing could be further from the truth. TV contracts are really what are pushing all of these numbers and those contracts are expiring. The NFL has made more money over the last few years then it's ever made because of these contracts and yet, NFL TV ratings continue to decline. The NFL has kinda painted itself into a corner because they have really put their eggs in that one TV basket. If the bottom falls out on the TV contracts, everybody is in for a reality check. When you say this isn't the 1960s, as if that's when the real risk was around and not since, it's interesting to me that this might be the popular view. Jerry invested his entire future on the Cowboys in 89. Mark Davis is doing that right now with the Raiders.

This league, right now, is dealing with legal issues that could cost it it's future, in terms of how society is not teaching their children to play football at a young age and settlement issues with concussions etc. Players have nothing on the line, in terms of those kinds of things. Nobody is coming after retired player A, in order to try and get his benefits or past earnings. That's really all on the owners.

 

[CouchCoach]

First, there is the ego since all of this is made so public and some even have it written into their contracts that no one at their position can be at a higher rate of pay and this goes back a while. Remember SEA losing Steve Hutchinson to MIN because of that clause in his contract and their inability to meet his salary demand?

Add to this the wealth of the owners and their take of the pie and the agents constantly in their ear about their value and let's not forget that these aren't the brightest bulbs in the lamp. These high pro sports salaries are the evening out of the silver spoon some are born with or having the smarts to make it on their own. It is not their fault that were not born smart but they were born with natural athletic ability and for some, size.

 

[sean10mm]

Would you rather have 20 million and win a super bowl, or 30 million and finish last? That's a more relevant question.

The real answer that actual players almost always give is "more money for me, [beep] you."

Even when lesser players take cheap 1 year deals with the Patriots, it seems like it's done to set them up for a way bigger contract the year after. Guys often have career upticks when they go to the Pats, and people love to overpay ex-Pats, even guys who were just role players.

Brady is a huge outlier, not the least because he's so old nobody really knows what his guaranteed money even should be, even accepting that he's the best ever. How many good 42 year old QBs ever existed?

Respect. Athletes want to feel their efforts are respected the same as their peers.

This is a big part of it too. Status is measured in dollars for most of these guys. Bigger number = better than.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Would you take a third less than you made in your life?

If I knew that a third less would insure that I had a job and could be successful over the course of my entire career, if it ensured that others who followed me, perhaps my children, would have opportunity to make a living in the same industry, and if a third less was still more then sufficient to enable me to live a comfortable life, then yes, I would.

Hell, you are talking to a guy who played Football for nothing and screwed up his knees, back and whatever other ailment that pops up when I role out of bed.

 

[PhillySpecial]

Not another Dak thread - but someone please explain to me, from the perspective of a pro athlete, just what makes $30 million/year so badly necessary more than $20 million/year?

Yes, I know, more is always better. Yes I know, inflation. But there is virtually nothing you can want with $30 million/year that you couldn't have with $20 million/year, especially considering that there is no state income tax in Texas (unlike, say, an athlete in California or New York). You want big mansions? You got 'em - you can buy several every year. You want Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Porsches, Corvettes, Bugattis, Maseratis? You can buy a dozen each year. You want hordes of women flocking to you? Well, you would have had that with even just $2 million a year, let alone $20 million. You want to send your kids to private school, make sure your family is financially set for life? Again, you sure don't need an income of $30 million a year to do that.

This isn't even taking into account the fact that many such athletes are making plenty of money on the side through advertisements, endorsements, and other ancillary income.

Where I'm going with this is: The difference between $20 million/year and $30 million/year is virtually nil for a pro athlete - either way, he's positively bathing in wealth. But it makes a big difference to a pro team's salary cap, on the other hand. The $10 million difference could mean the difference between an NFL team being able to sign additional talent that could propel them over the top, or not being able to.

Is it simply about "Such-and-such an athlete got so-and-so much, so I want just as much?" Or, "I want to be THE highest paid so I can feel like No. 1?"

I think the anybody would have to consider the net. How much net difference is there between a gross of $27 million vs. $30 million? It's not the $10 million chasm you cite, but $3 million less in payout is an extra $3 million to spend on another player under the cap. And the player probably isn't giving up too much to give the team an extra $3 million.

Deductions are way out my league. I'm just something out there and taking a wild guess.

 

[sean10mm]

If I knew that a third less would insure

The average NFL career is like 3 years. You can't "insure" anything as a player, beyond negotiating the best deal you can get up front.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

The average NFL career is like 3 years. You can't "insure" anything as a player, beyond negotiating the best deal you can get up front.

The average NFL player doesn't apply to your example because that guy isn't squabbling over 30 million vs 27. That guy is busy trying to make a team for a minimum salary. If you really wanted to make the point that it's about players and salaries, then you would increase the minimum salaries for those guys and decrease the max salaries for the guys who are making way more then enough.

 

[aikemirv]

That's a good point. For me at least, I would think once the money gets way up there, I would consider other aspects of the deal, for example, your chances of winning a championship. If I were offered 30 million to play for the Browns or 20 million to play for the Patriots, I would probably go with the Patriots. At least I think I would. Who knows if I were in that situation maybe I would agonize over that extra 10 million and think playing for a crappy team may make it worth it. I'd doubt it. There are other factors too such as location and weather. Would you rather be in the nice weather of Miami or freezing your buns off in Buffalo? Some players probably will make the money their total bottom line while others may consider other factors. Maybe you've already earned your millions but have never gotten a championship, so you go for the best team that will sign you. There's no one right answer. But it would be tough for a lot of players to say no to that extra ten million.

And really you only get about 5 of the extra 10 after taxes anyway

 

[aikemirv]

It is like any other profession.

For my field, if I am a College Grad with my CPA, why would I take 40k from a big 4 firm when the market is 60K?

 

[kskboys]

It is like any other profession.

For my field, if I am a College Grad with my CPA, why would I take 40k from a big 4 firm when the market is 60K?

Disagree vehemently!!!!

Playing professional sports at this level is not even close to being like any other profession.

If you want to relate it to accounting, it would be more like being one of the best accountants in the world, and trying to decide between firms that offer you salaries of millions per year. You simply cannot compare this to the difference between 40 and 60 k. 20 or 30 mil, either is enough to retire comfortably for life and never have to work again.

That's not even apples and oranges, more like .22 bullets and nuclear bombs.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

It is like any other profession.

For my field, if I am a College Grad with my CPA, why would I take 40k from a big 4 firm when the market is 60K?

But that door swings both ways. There are a lot of College Grads that are taking jobs way outside of their profession for significantly less money. It's because it's a supply and demand world and not a guaranteed easy money world when you get into the work force. A College Degree doesn't get you anything these days, unless you can put it together with production.

Heck, I would hire a guy who has no College Degree but produced way more then the College Grad guy because production means stability for the company. It's the difference between expecting a certain wage and earning a certain wage.

That, to me, is the problem with this entire discussion. To many people just expect a player to receive a certain amount of money because why? The Market is not a place where it rewards employees because escalation is just the way it is. It's a place where a persons value is set, based upon results.

 

[aikemirv]

Disagree vehemently!!!!

Playing professional sports at this level is not even close to being like any other profession.

If you want to relate it to accounting, it would be more like being one of the best accountants in the world, and trying to decide between firms that offer you salaries of millions per year. You simply cannot compare this to the difference between 40 and 60 k. 20 or 30 mil, either is enough to retire comfortably for life and never have to work again.

That's not even apples and oranges, more like .22 bullets and nuclear bombs.

Disagree - it is apples to apples because it reflects your worth and what you specialize in. That extra 10 (really probably 6) could be used in a lot of ways - especially if you wanted to help people. Every employee wants to feel valued and respected no matter what the pay. If my value is 30 and you try to pay me 20 it effects my attitiude and performance!

 

[kskboys]

The average NFL career is like 3 years. You can't "insure" anything as a player, beyond negotiating the best deal you can get up front.

Not in this scenario. The average NFL career of those making 20-30 million is prolly more like 8-10 years. And both amounts are more than enough to easily retire on.

Your argument actually supports the other side. Those players who have short NFL careers are the borderline players. In that case, your argument supports paying the top guys less and the borderline guys more. That's what I'd be for.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Disagree - it is apples to apples because it reflects your worth and what you specialize in. That extra 10 (really probably 6) could be used in a lot of ways - especially if you wanted to help people. Every employee wants to feel valued and respected no matter what the pay. If my value is 30 and you try to pay me 20 it effects my attitiude and performance!

But if your only really worth 25 and that's what the market dictates, then I can go out and find a guy who will be happy with 20 and allow you or whomever, to go out and chase your dreams of equality earning 30.

 

[HungryLion]

Why do I need to eat 3 slices of pizza instead of 2?

Why do I need 8 beers instead of 7?


Life’s little mysteries.

 

[CouchCoach]

Would you rather have 20 million and win a super bowl, or 30 million and finish last? That's a more relevant question.

I think 99% of the players would take the latter. Only players that have the money are willing to take less to get a ring.

I get amused and all of this "team friendly" BS in the greediest business in sports. They're all in it for the money and few care about winning or losing more than the fans and that includes everyone involved, including the coaches. Time was, it was more about winning and losing and the game but money changed all of that for everyone involved.

If I were a player, I would be all about the gold and if some of that dripped onto a ring, great, but that's not why I would be in it. And I get even more amused when I see things written about those players in the past. Hell, think players like Meredith, Staubach, Lilly, Dorsett, Jordan, Hayes, Pearson, Renfro, Aikman, Irvin and we know what Emmitt would have done wouldn't have gone for the gold if they could have? The draft was indentured servitude.

I am glad FA did not exist back then because that ruined MLB for me as I grew up with Mantle forever a Yankee and Musial forever a Cardinal and the same with Huff a Skin, Butkus a Bear and Starr a Packer. Even the hatred Talbert had for Staubach was special, back then he could have joined him on the team with FA. Imagine seeing Nitschke's ugly mug in anything but Packer gold or Lambert in anything but black and gold. That was a special time to me and didn't realize it at the time and most of those guys had to have jobs Feb-June to augment not enough to support a family with the NFL and they didn't have any offseason program but camp, which was where they all got into football shape. And the playoffs were huge as I remember Lilly saying winning the SB meant he didn't have to work another job that year. The playoffs were actually a motivation and incentive and today it means reduced game checks.

I only got a couple, 3 at the most, NFL games a week and not many more college games than that, every one of them was more special, an event. I've mentioned that maybe I grew out of my love of football, specifically the NFL, but I didn't. They left me behind on where they were bound for and arrived. And if I live long enough, will leave this behind just as I did MLB.

 

[cern]

clearly this is a trick question. right??? the op can't be serious. how about family? how about looking out for their welfare and those of their children for years to come?

 

[kskboys]

Disagree - it is apples to apples because it reflects your worth and what you specialize in. That extra 10 (really probably 6) could be used in a lot of ways - especially if you wanted to help people. Every employee wants to feel valued and respected no matter what the pay. If my value is 30 and you try to pay me 20 it effects my attitiude and performance!

That's not what I was disagreeing w/. I was disagreeing that it's the same thing w/ any profession, and it's not even close.

At this level, it's not about worth, it's often about pettiness and greed. Have you listened to Leveon?